My love of fall began as a kid with the anticipation of costumes, trick or treating and the subsequent sugar highs. Carving jagged-tooth jack o-lanterns with my family, turning out all of the lights and chasing each other around the house by pumpkin candlelight. The vegetable soup my mom made every year on Halloween, a perfect meal to share post-candy jag. And a yearly tradition not to be missed – watching the Charlie Brown special with Linus’ futile quest for the Great Pumpkin.
During my annual viewing, I was struck by how much of Charles Schulz’ writing would have been over my head as a child. Lucy mentions that a document isn’t notarized. Charlie Brown, in refuting the existence of the great pumpkin, says that he and Linus obviously have denominational differences. And I’m not sure I would have had a concept for sincerity at so young of an age.
Fall is less about candy and costumes now that I’ve grown older, more about the colors of leaves and changing. It wasn’t always so, but something about this time of year makes me more reflective. After watching Linus and his hunt for sincerity, I’ve been thinking a lot about character. Sincerity, a good character trait by any measure.
When I think of the the type of person I’d like to be, the qualities I admire in others, I come up with patience, grace and humility. I’ve told just a couple of people about these personal character goals of mine, and the response has been surprise. When I first registered the surprise it made me question my efforts. Maybe I’m laughably far from these goals? But, no. I think it was something else. We design our lives, plan who we’d like to be in more material ways.
It’s more usual to define ourselves by job titles, degrees we’ve earned, the type of house and neighborhood we live in, things we do and buy. When I hear people talk about five year plans, it usually involves career or weight goals, whether to have a family or not, where to travel to and so on. Though I have reflected on character goals for myself, I don’t often bring it up in these conversations. Does everyone have secret character goals, and we’re just not talking about them?
I’ve heard that one of the most common Halloween costumes this year is Snooki from Jersey Shore. Wasn’t it Octo-mom one year? I suppose Halloween is the time for fun tricks, a chance to poke fun at these personalities decidedly lacking in character. I’m headed to a Halloween party later tonight and I don’t have a costume picked out. Think I can just tell everyone I’m not quite sure I’m there yet, but I’m trying to be patient, humble and full of grace?
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For the inspiration, thank you:
To the anonymous donor to a nonprofit I once worked with for the lesson in humility.
And (don’t laugh, it’s the digital age after all) to the The Sartorialist for inspiring the goal of grace.
This post was originally published on October 30, 2010 on Sundayed.